Little Falls transcript., 1887-06-10

; sporting men, and people who do busi-
ness in the nearest town. Many COM
| plants are made concerning the inn
moral tendencies of fairs when pool:
selling is allowed. Permits are given
for objectionable side-shows, privileges
for selling worthless article are sold,
nd games of chance are permitted.
Many exhibitors complain of want of
suitable. accommodations &c for themselves
and their stock, of the lack of capacity,
! knowledge, Judgment, and honesty on
the part OF the judges, of delay in hay
ing the fair grounds put in suitable
condition, and in reduction in the
premiums offered. Many complain be-
cause fairs are generally noisy and
! disorderly and because the exercises
| of each day do not conform with the
| published programme. Many state that
the best space in the exhibition building
is generally occupied by goods Of mer-
chants, to the exclusion of farm, gar
den, orchard, and dairy products,
They declare that fairs should be prin-
cipally for educating people in matters
pertaining to agriculture and not for
furnishing amusement or for adyertis-
ing and selling goods.
There are good grounds for most Of
these complaints, but it seems aston
! shing that the people who make them
| do not interest themselves in insritut-
ing the reforms they appear to desire
| so much. The most enterprising and in
| telligent farmers. gardeners, and stock
raisers in each county should control the
fair, and should they undertake to do
! so it is not likely :s,at they should meet
| with any oppos lion. To accomplish
the best results it is advisable for them
to organize a county agricultural
society, which should not limit its Ia
bors to holding an annual fair.
| THIS society should hold regular meet
! ings for hearing lectures, discussing
various matters pertaining to farming
gardening, and stock raising, and for
! considering business matters and legis-
lation that effect the interests in which
they are engaged. Working commit
tees should be appointed to test new
varlties of plants, to consider the mer-
| it's of rival breeds of animals, to expert
ment with machines and implements,
and to make reports on them. An as
socation Of men organized for the pur-
pose Of promoting agriculture and
stock-raising would be likely to con-
duct a county fair that would be Of
great value to themselves and the
! community, and one that would be
free from all Objectionable features.
Such an association could be incor-
porated as joint stock society for the
| pur1 ose of buying and improving
grounds and holding annual agrcul-
tural fairs, The number of Shares
should be large and the price compara-
lively small, SO as to allow every enter
prising farmer in the county to own at
least one. BY adopting this plan the
| majority of the farmers in a county
would become directly interested IN
the welfare of the society and the sue
cess of the fair. They would BECOME
better acqua nted, and would be better
prepared to work for the advancement
of agriculture and kindred industries.
They could decide how fair should be
conducted that would accomplish the
best results. They could arrange for
using their grounds and buildings for
other purposes than accommodating
exhibitors and patrons of the annual
fair. At a comparatively small ex-
could be used for meetings of the soci-
ETY. and for the display OF some articles
| exhibited at the fairs. When attend
ing these meetings they could stable
their horses in the stalls erected for
animals brought for exhibitions. A
building answering the purposes OF the
clubhouse in most racing parks is very
desirable in an inclosure used for hold
ing fairs. 1t need not be costly
affair." but it should contain kitchen,
dining-room, and large apartment
for holding meetings.
It is very desirable to have family
live in a building located on the fair
grounds and have the general care ot
them during the entire year. IDe
grounds should be kept in good con-
dition all the time. The fences and
buildings should not be allowed to get
out of repair, AS they frequently do
when the premises are deserted except
during the weeks when the fair is in
progress The grass on the grounds
should be cut and saved at the proper
time, the weeds killed, and tracks
kept in good condition. Before the
fair is held everything about the
grounds should be put in order. After
it is over the manure should be remov-
ed from the pens where the animals
were kept and the buildings whitewash-
ed The time of one man could be en-
ployed to excellent advantage during
the entire year in keeping the buildings
and grounds in good condition. If
building is used for the accommodation
of the members of the association d
H. .J1I %o Acl~ IT,
of it. If it is provided with cooking
utensils, dishes, tables. and chairs, she
could prepare meals for the members
Of the association whenever they have
meetings. The house could be made
the home of the members of the society
when they met for business. 1t would
insure privacy and save considerable
expense.
With a family to take chrrgc of fair
buildings and grounds and house for
the officers of the association, there
would be 20 excuse for not opening
the exhibition on time or for incom-
plete arrangements. II the fair opened
on Wednesday everything could be in
readiness for receiving live stock, farm
products, and miscellaneous articles on
Monday morning. The person in
charge of the place could take care of
them till the fair openend. He could
also look after them at the close of the
exhibition. A Young society should be
prepared to pay premiums promptly
and in full even if the receipts of the
fair are small. The members of the
association will find it to their adyan-
tage to pay the assessment for making
up a deficit rather than have exhibitors
dissatisfied and complaints made about
fho 1.E